‘Arabian’ gets knight

Chuck Russell is set to direct a 3D film

Chuck Russell is set to direct a 3D reworking of “Arabian Nights.” He co-wrote the script with Barry P. Ambrose.

The action adventure, with an estimated budget of $70 million, will be financed by Inferno Entertainment, with production slated to begin in April.

In a new spin on the classic, the story follows a young commander who, after his king is killed in a palace coup, joins forces with Sinbad, Aladdin and his genie to rescue Scheherazade and her kingdom from dark powers.

“Through the use of a new generation of visual technologies, we will be able to quite literally take audiences around the world on a magic carpet ride,” Russell said.

Producers are Inferno’s Bill Johnson, Mayhem Pictures’ Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, as well as Roar’s Will Ward, who manages Russell.

Inferno will handle international sales on “Arabian Nights” at this week’s AFM. Company also will be handling foreign sales on new pickups including Lisa Cholodenko’s “The Kids Are All Right,” starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, as well as Dustin Lance Black’s “What’s Wrong With Virginia,” starring Jennifer Connelly and Ed Harris. Roar is also a producer on the latter pic.

Inferno is in post on thriller “The Experiment,” with Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker. And it is prepping action-thriller “The Killer Elite,” starring Jason Statham.